Tile roof



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,213

C. A. STATLER TILE ROOF lfiled March 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 674547636 Mal-1187 Jan. 15, 1 929. 1,699,213

c. A. STATLER TILE: R00? 3 Shuts-Shut 5 nary tile roof, which s Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. STATLER. 01 OAK PARK, ILLINOIS TILE ROOF.

Application filed larch 26, 1927. Serial No. 178,582.

My invention relates to improvements in roofs and has special reference to roofs composed of similar interlocking parts made principally of prepared flexible sheet roofing material and simulating 1n appearance a roof made of earthenware or similar tile.

The object of my invention is to provide a roof which has the appearance of an ordiall be but a fraction of a tile roof in weight,which shall be low in cost, pleasing in appearance and very durable.

My invention involves a form of tile made principally of flexible roofing material, which shall produce the appearance of a heavy earthenware tile, which shall present flat parts in contact with the roof proper on which scaffolding parts can be placed without damage to the roof and providing places upon which a worker can stand without damaging the tile, which tile shall be reinforced to maintain their shape and which reinforcement shall be secured in position within the tile by a very simple and effective means without the exposure of any metal fasteners on a finished roof.

A feature peculiar to my improved roof consists in an improvement for interlocking at the edges of the tile which causes the roof to shed water, and in the contacting shoulders on the tile which regulates the overlap of the tile and facilitates its accurate and rapid placing,'in other words,

the tile are so shaped that they are practically self spacing and the roof can be laid with greater speed than heretofore.

Further advantageous features will appear hereinafter.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Fig. 1, is a top plan view of a section of a roof made of my improved tiles;

Fig. 2, is a horizontal section onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, is an elevational view of the lower edge of the roof;

Fig. 4, is a plan view of a pieceof the sheet material of which the tiles are made;

Fig. 5, shows the piece notches at its corners preparatory to being formed into tile shape;

Figs. 6 and 7, are perspective views of metal reinforcing membersfor the tiles;

1Fig. 8, is a bottom plan view of one of the ti es;

Fig. 9, is horizontal, sectional view of the tile on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view on the line l010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the assembled tiles and taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12, is a perspective of a, filler I sometimes use to close the lower ends of the raised parts of the tiles;

Fig. 13, is a detail, fragmentary, 'plan View, showing a diiferent method of fastening the sheet metal reinforcing members to the body of the tile;'

Fig. 14, is a fragmentary, sectional view on the line 1414 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15, is a fragmentary, horizontal section on the line 1515 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 16, is a similar vertical section on the line l616 of Figs. 1 and 15.

In said drawings, 1 represents a roof made up of a plurality of tiles 2. The tiles are preferably laid in rows longitudinally and vertically of the roof, and in the form of roof illustrated the tiles are formed to present the appearance of a Spanish roof In de of what are commonly known as Spanisli tile. These tiles 2 are made of flexible sheet metal roofing material cut fromfiat sheets and formed to produce the appearance of Spanish tile. The tiles are reinforced to preserve their shape, to hold the outer locking edge portions rigidly in posi tion and prevent the separation of tiles once they are laid.

As shown in the drawin s, one vertical side portion 3 of each is ormed up into semi-cylindrical shape from the bottom to the top of the tile, while the other side edge portion 4 of the tile is left flat, and when the tiles are laid on the roof the rounded up parts are aligned verticall of the roof, thus forming vertically exten ing flat spaces 5 alternating with vertically extending rounded ridges 6 and producing the Spanish tile appearance desired.

In order to retain the formed tile in its formed up shape I provide a sheet metal reinforcing member 7 adapted to be arranged to the weather.

. inclusive,

across the tile in contact with its under surface ,and having a semi-cylindrical formed up art 8 at one end, fitting snugly within the ormed up part3 of the body of the tile, and a flat part 9 at its other end fitting against and beneath the flat part 4 of the body of the tile.

The formed up parts 3 of the tiles are tapered longitudinally suflieiently so that the upper end of one tile will fit snugly within the lower end of the next tile above, as shown in Figs. land 11. The lateral edge portions of the tile are formed over inwardly, the one edge 10 upwardly and toward the center and the other edge 11 formed inwardly to provide flanges which, when fitted together interlock and prevent the separation of the adjacent tiles. As best shown in Fig. 9, the edge 10 is bent up and back over the body of the tile and forms a longitudinal groove 12 for receiving the inturned flange 11 at the opposite edge of the next tile. For maintainin the flanges 10 and 11, once they are forme ,.and to assist in producing a'rigid interlockment of adjacent tiles, the reinforcement extends out to the edges of the tile sheet and is rigidly secured at its ends to the sheet adjacent to its edges, that is, to the turned flanges 10 and 11. While the reinforcements can be secured in many. ways, I prefer the manner shown in Figs. 7 to 9 and which comprises V-shaped 13 pressed out of the body of the member 7 and formed preliminary all projecting out from the member 7 in position to be forced through the body of the tile and adapted to have their points clinched over, as shown in Fig. 9, thus securing the sheet metal reinforcing member 7 tightly to the body of the tile and in position to reinforce the flanges 10 and 11, as well as the body of the tile. Instead of these prongs, I sometimes secure the reinforcing members by means of rivets 14, preferably using a two prong rivet which can be forced through and secured in one operation.

The body of the tile, as stated, is preferably made of flexible sheet roofing material. and preferably this is what is known 'as prepared ready roofing, having a body of wool or rag felt impregnated and coated with asphalt and usually having a protective coating of granules on the surface to be exposed This grit is provided of any desired color and, as this is the exposed surface of my improved tile, the tile can be prongs made to simulate earthenware or heavy tile of any desired color. As the body of the tile is made of this flexible material which becomes more or less soft on hot days or when exposed to a hot sun, the reinforcing or stiffening members become necessary to retain the tiles in shape and prevent the rounded up parts sagging down.

is the body of tile is made of this relatively thin sheet material, even four ply which is the thickest commonly used, being not more than one eighth of an inclr in thickness, the lower or exposed end 15 of the tile would not be thick enough to present the appearance of a heavy tile if left of single thickness. I form the lower edge portion 16 back upon itself, turning it under, thus making the lower end of the tile at least of double thickness. Preferably I increase this thickness and stiffen the lower end of the tile by a narrow filler or reinforcing sheet metal member 17 formed similar to the memher 7 and placed within the turned over edge 16 and secured by similar V-shaped prongs 13. By this means the lower edge 15 of the tile is made thicker than double the thickness of the tile material by the thickness of the reinforcing member 17.

For the purpose of accurately spacing the tiles vertically, as they are laid, that is, to give the desired overlap to prevent the water rising up under the lower end of one tile and leaking under the top end of the tile beneath, I provide contacting shoulderson the tiles which, when brought into contact, properly set the til-es. For instance, the upper end portion of the inturned interlocking flange 11 is cut away to produce a shoulder 18 against which the lower end of the next tile above abuts. This shoulder is spaced down from the upper endof the tile the distance which it is desired to have the tile overlap vertically, which is about three inches in actual practice.

In making my improved tile I preferably take a piece 19 of the flexible sheet material which is preferably rectangular and also square, as shown in Fig. 4, and I cut it out at one upper corner 20 in preparation for the shoulder 18 and at the two lower corners, as shown at 21 and 21, to permit the lower end to be readily formed up and the lateral edges to be bent inwardly to form the interlocking flanges 10 and 11. I then preferably secure the reinforcing membei's 7 and 17 to this flat sheet. I then turn the bottom edge over the narrow reinforcing strip to thicken the lower end'of the tile, then form this prepared flat blank in suitable dies to make it the desired form.

It will be apparent that I might omit the final forming step and make use of the tiles in flat form, but in order that the roof may simulate the well known Spanish roof the last or forming step is necessary. It will be understood that several of the novel features of my invention are of value, even if the tile is used in its flat form, and I desire it to be understood that such features are not limited to use with the Spanish form of tile. In the Spanish form of tile the lower ends of the formed up parts of the roofare closed by a filler block 22, as shown in Fig. 12, and formed to fit within the lower end of the tile.

Preferably the ex osed face of the filler block 22 is covered y a piece 23 of the sheet roofing material cut the same shape as the block 22. In securing the tiles upon a roof it is usually the custom to cover the roof proper with a layer of ordinary roofing paper 23 for the purpose of additional water tight protection. The first tile to be laid is preferably the one at the right hand end of the lowermost row and it is secured in place by two nails 24, as shown on the drawings, driven through the upper end portion of the flat part- 4 of the tile and in position where the next tile above will cover the nails from the weather. Then the next tile to the left of the first one is placed, the underturned flange 11 being inserted beneath the overturned flange 10 andthe interlocked edges of the two tiles forced into close contact, as shown in the drawings. This second tile is then fastened by the two nails in its upper end. Then the remaining part of the first row is completed in .like manner. The next row above is then laid beginning at the right hand end of the row. The first tile is teleg scoped downwardly upon the upper end of the lower tile, the overturned flange 10 being telescoped within the upper end of the similar flange of the lower tile and the lower end of the underturned flange 11 being pushed down into contact with the upper end 18 of the similar flange of the lower tile, and at the left hand edge the lower end of the upturned edge 11 of the upper tile likewise contacts with the shoulder 18 of the second tile in the lower row, thus limiting the vertical overlapping of the tiles and causing the tiles of the upper row to be properly set. It is to be noticed that the telescoping of the upturned flange 10 of the upper tile within the similar flange of the lower tile produces an eflicient water-tight construction at this point at which is located the shoulder contacts of the upper and lower tiles. Water might seep throughat this point, but if it should it would be prevented from getting beneath the tiles by the said telescoping engagement of the two upturned flanges 10.

The tiles, as explained, can be accurately and rapidly laid, they produce a water-tight roof covering, even without the extra covering 23, and they produce not only the appearance of the heavy Spanish tile but provide vertical flat spaces between the raised parts upon which a workman can stand and walk without damage t6 the roof or in which two by fours can be laid for providing suitable supports for the workmen. It is to be noted that a Spanish appearance rootmade of these relatively light weight tiles does not require the strong construction of building and roof that is required when heavy earthenware or cement tiles are used, thus effecting a great saving in cost as one of the advantages of my invention.

one side of the tile formed into a seinirylindrical shape and having its longitudinal edge turned down and inwardly to form an lnturned' flange, the other side of the tile formed into a flat portion and having the lateral edge of the flat portion turned up and inwardly to form a cooperating flange, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A roof made of tiles formed of flexible sheet roofing material commonly known as .prepared roofing, each tile formed at one side into a semi-cylindrical shape and at the other side flat, the lateral edge of the curved side having an edge flange turned down and inwardly, and the opposite edge of the tile turned upwardly and inwardly to form a cooperating flange, the second mentioned flange adapted to be received within the first mentioned flange of an adjacent tile in laying a roof, the first mentioned flange cut away 'at its upper end the amount of the vertical overlap of the tiles of the roof to permit such engagement of the flanges. A

3. A roof made of tiles formed of flexible sheet roofing material commonly known as prepared roofing, each tile formd at one side into a semi-cylindrical shape and at the other side flat, the lateral edge of the curved side having an edge flange turned down and inwardly, and the 0 posite edge of the tile turned upwardly an inwardly to form a cooperating flange, the second mentioned flange adapted to be received within the first mentioned flange of an adjacent tile in laying a roof, the first mentioned flange cut away at its upper end the amount of the vertical overlap of the tiles of the roof to permit such engagement of the flanges, and the tiles secured to the roof by nails in the upper ends of the flat parts and which nails are covered by the overlapping lower ends of the next higher row of tiles.

4. A roof composed of tiles made of prepared roofing, each tile formed at one side into semi-cylindrical form and flat at the other side, the curved edge having its edge turned down and inwardly to form a hooked flange, the opposite edge of the tile turned up" and inwardly to form a companion hooked flange, the latter flange being in position to be exposed when the tile is laid, and the'opposite flange of the next tile being adapted to be entered within the exposed flange and cover same and the covering tile adapted to be retained in position with its under hooked flange tightly in place by nails driven through its flat portion near its upper end and adapted to be covered by the next row of tiles.

5. A roof composed of tiles made of prepared roofing, each tile formed at one side into semi-cylindrical form and flat at the other side, the curved side having its edge turned down and inwardly to form a hooked flange, the opposite edge of the tile turned up and inwardly to form a companion hooked flange, the latter flange being in position to be exposed when the tile is laid, and the opposite flange of the next tile being adapted to be entered within the exposed flange of an adjacent tile and cover same and the covering tile adapted to be retained in position with its under hooked flange tightly in place by nails driven through its fiat portion near itsupper end and adapted to be covered by the next row of tiles, the upper part of the flange on the curved part cutaway the depth of the overlap of the tiles to permit the proper engagement of the edge flanges.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of March, 1927.

4 CHARLES A. STATLER. 

